Claudia Lezcano has been named CEO of fast casual fried chicken concept Fuku. She most recently served as senior vice president of U.S. marketing at Church’s Texas Chicken.
Lezcano has more than 25 years of marketing experience, including for brands like Celebrity Cruises, Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. She also spent eight years at Burger King Corporation leading strategy and marketing communications. For Fuku, Lezcano is charged with accelerating growth and expanding the brand’s footprint.
The concept was created in 2015 by Chef David Chang and Momofuku and now includes nearly 30 locations in traditional spaces, as well as stadiums and arenas. Fuku also recently started adding ghost kitchens to its mix. The concept’s menu is influenced by both Asian and American influences, according to the company, with chicken sandwich variations, sides, slushies and four signature sauces.
“I am honored and excited to be leading Fuku’s next chapter of growth,” Lezcano said in a statement. “Chef David Chang created an unmatched chicken sandwich when he founded Momofuku → Fuku in 2015, and my vision is to continue building upon on his original concept by offering approachable, tasty food that changes the way people think about fast casual. I look forward to working with the team to continue growing our footprint throughout the country so even more guests can delight in Fuku’s one-of-a-kind chicken sandwich.”
Fuku is a part of RSE Ventures’ portfolio, which also includes Bluestone Lane, Magnolia Bakery, Momofuku, Milk Bar, &pizza and more.
“Claudia is one of those dynamic executives who understands that the success of a restaurant brand starts with operational excellence and delivering on the promises you make to your customers and broader communities,” Matt Higgins, co-founder and CEO of RSE Ventures, said in a statement. “She has deep QSR expertise and truly knows the hospitality space, including how essential it is to have a consistent and meaningful brand voice across all consumer touch points. Her ideal blend of marketing and operations experience makes Claudia uniquely suited for this role, and I’m confident that Fuku is well-positioned for continued success under her leadership.”